About MaryAlice Coelho

Posts by MaryAlice Coelho:

People who are new to Sacramento or know very little about it all have the same problem. The majority of them see Sacramento at a very basic level. It is true, we do not have the initial visual impact like New York or The Bay, but I want to say that there is so much more to this city than a brief glance. Sacramento is beautiful in its depth, its pages between the ends of the covers. When one gets to really know the City of Trees, the warm hug of Sacramento embraces you and it never lets you go. I was born and raised here and I am constantly finding similar feels and images of Sacramento abroad. The hidden gems of the 916 area code make it what it is today. A diverse, eclectic, loving community with pride in its niche neighborhoods and unified spirit it its love for everything Sacramento.

One of the places I go to eat in order to really feel Sac after a long hiatus is Harry’s Café on 16th. Owned by a humble family, they serve a wide range of breakfast both American and Asian style. Truth be told I’m a sucker for their Spam fried rice. The portions are enormous and Harry, the owner, serves up Loco Moco as well. A native Hawaiian dish, Loco is comprised of white rice, topped with a burger patty, fried egg, green onion, and brown gravy, personally I throw a little Sriracha hot sauce on there too. Another gem has to be Roxie Deli. Half grocery store/sandwich spot, Roxie hits home with amazing Pastrami and other deli sandwiches served by friendly SF Giants fans. Its never super crowded, they have a chill little patio out front to eat on and certain days of the week they barbeque tri-tip in a huge smoker right out front.

Aside from food Sac has a range of places to go and experience. The American River is blessed with little tiny nooks and crannies to lounge and enjoy a Saturday, try between mile markers 18 and 19. The backdrop in late August and September reminds me of the book The Indian Paint Brush with amazing sunsets stripped with rusty reds and the gentlest blues. The range of art galleries in town seems to be growing at a rapid pace. The Sac State gallery is chalk full of circulating displays often showcasing local talent and artists. You get rewarded in Sac for adventure, for stepping out of a preconceived bubble and engaging the unknown. You never know, you might just happen to stumble into little Juno Café, or Curbside Cuisine’s food truck, or Mama Sues Kitchen, or coffee at Old Soul at The Weatherstone, or McKinley Park’s Rose Garden, or the Tower Theater. The point is no vinyl record was truly great because of the album artwork, what mattered was the music on the inside. Much like an old LP, what’s on the inside of Sacramento is what truly makes this city righteous and beautiful.

Not a pity-inducing documentary, not a love for animals, not for chakras, chi, or chicks (see disclaimer at bottom). I became vegetarian because I was ready, even though I didn’t even know it. I am the typical health freak with buckling bookshelves under the weight of information on the potency of fruits and vegetables, home remedies, and nicknames used to hide petroleum in our food (BHT, BHA, TBHQ, artificial coloring, and more). I have been genuinely interested in nutrition since my high school calculus teacher bullied our soft drinks and junk food with antagonizing names, like “cancer” and “dumb-dumb living.” As with any earth-shattering statement I sought its validity, my wide opened eyes couldn’t ignore the obvious answers and neither could my stomach.

As my fearless feet slowly tore through many pairs of rubber soles like wild fire, my running evolved from single miles, to half-marathons, marathons, and finally an ultra-marathon. I became more in-tune with the affects of my food intake. KFC, Hot Pockets, McDonald’s, and hot dogs filled my stomach with the same sickening richness as a gallon of milk and I could make a bet on what time in the night I would wake up queasy and shaking. To my surprise, my doctor said that I wasn’t dying of the worst stomach disease ever and I simply need to take responsibility and stay away from junk food (although I later learned that there is no such thing as junk food, there’s junk and there’s food). I knew that maybe my hundred-mile-running-calculus teacher was right about the food I once praised. Yet, it was easier to stop running and keep eating junk than the other way around, so that’s what I did. I couldn’t realize that I was moderately addicted to junk because of the chemicals it induced in my brain. Not that I had to worry about the weight, my metabolism was the only thing that ran faster than me. The worse hit when I bought a 20 pack of pepperoni Hot Pockets and killed seven within three days. By this time I had mapped the algorithm, either run or eat junk food, they can’t mix or I’ll be sick. But alas, like Columbus, I ran into something I didn’t account for: I woke up to another nauseous night because of the Hot Pockets, despite the lack of exercise. This time I heard a high pitch ringing and the lights went black. As I regained my vision, I realized that I passed out… yes, from Hot Pockets.

It’s a mystery to me too. So I was desperate when I came across Forks Over Knives, and it preached a promise as inspiring and simple as eating only plants. Looking back, I’m glad I naively accepted the challenge because when I removed meat from my diet I removed about 70% of processed food because they contain meat. The stories on the movie are absolutely amazing, and I have truly seen the results for myself. The biggest results are oddly ones I didn’t foresee: increased happiness and an increased sense of inner peace that is very hard to describe, but it’s like a new found unwillingness to kill even bugs. The journey to vegetarianism started as a nutritional endeavor but soon became about saving animals and practicing peace in all forms of my life while also being sustainable (the meat industry is a VERY wasteful industry but that’s another story).

I can understand, because you eat meat doesn’t mean you don’t love animals, or practice peace, or believe in chi or chakras. In fact, it was a part of life I never considered changing, after all, I had a chicken nugget eating contest only a couple weeks before I went vegetarian. Not eating meat is a huge metamorphosis that is easy to lose and often underestimated, but it does cause changes in your life you may not expect; almost as if it amplifies a love for animals and inner peace. However, it starts with one vegetarian meal in place of meat every once in a while and slowly it should inspire change if it is right for you. Step by step, I became a different person and I don’t regret any part of it. Removing meat was a life changing decision for myself and I can only hope that it inspires others to re-evaluate that part of their life. With further investigation, there is an arsenal of reasons to go vegetarian, for the sake of an endless list and a glassy-eyed reader I will leave that up to you.

The summer is slowly coming to an end. It is time for the 2012 Neighborhood News Correspondents to put down their notebooks and pens and take off the press badge. I know we will continue to strive for a better future and encourage others to express their voice. More importantly, we will take with us confidence and technological skills acquired over the course of the program. Between the perks of working with cool, high-tech equipment and scoring tickets to a Rivercats ball game or Sacramento’s Film and Music Festival, working for Accesslocal.tv was always exciting.

I had the opportunity to work with some cool cats, meet some important people and learn more than I had ever known about Sacramento. I went to my first City Council meeting downtown, enjoyed a handful of local farmer’s markets and was given a VIP tour of Panama Pottery’s old factory. I had the opportunity to share my passion for yoga and my approach to smoothies. Oh, and did I mention all the cool stuff I learned while traveling Europe this summer. I wrote about the safe biking lanes and efficient shower system in Germany. It’s been such a great experience, to write about what interest me, learn and share! Its been real Sacramento, its fun… its been real fun!

This is MaryAlice Coelho, Neighborhood New Correspondent for Accesslocal.tv…. signing off.

Schooling in the United States is quite a double edged sword. When you start school you feel a sense of joy at the new experience. In middle school, that joy slowly shifts to a sense of disdain, and by the time you are in high school, most have reached an all-out sense of loathing. School is always a non-negotiable responsibility from kindergarten to high school, and then you get to make the decision of where you go after 12th grade. Some go to private or public universities, some go to state schools, some go to community college, and some go to work. No matter where you ended up, over time most young adults experience the epiphany; School is not a responsibility, school is an opportunity!

My whole life, I have had to fight for my education. I was always enrolled in school, but the fight was to be in classes that were stimulating to me. In the 5th grade, I had to test into a program called GATE, which was considered somewhat of honors classes at the elementary level. At the turn of middle school, I again had to test into higher level learning classes for seventh and eighth grade and in high school; I had to test into an honors program called HISP at local C.K. McClatchy High School. A symptom of all this testing to get into better classes was disdain and loathing of the school system.

After high school, I went to local Sacramento Community College because financially this was the only school my parents could pay for. I started Sacramento City College as a part time student/part time employee. My personal frustration at my level of effort during my life to get into good classes and do well, only to transition into community college because of financial aid ineligibility, reached a peak within my second year, fueling me to start work full-time and attend school part time.

After a year of working full-time and going to school part time, my academic frustration decreased and I began to envision an academic goal; to transfer to Sacramento State University and graduate with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

It took that time of putting school last to realize that school wasn’t a responsibility that had to be satisfied. School was an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the world and people around me, an opportunity to expand myself as a person, and an opportunity to create internal happiness by achieving something I set my mind to.

I worked hard to receive my Associate in Arts degree in Psychology and am now preparing to apply for admission into Sac State for Fall 2013. I have cultivated such a sense of pride in myself for continuing school even when I couldn’t see the benefit, for working hard to get an A.A degree, and now have the internal confidence that I will succeed no matter what life throws my way and no matter how long it takes.

Kyle Hunt is jolly young man with a friendly smile and a warm heart. He is a valuable asset to Sacramento, as he often spends his time working with young athletes in the area. Hunt is often giving back to his community, from working with youth to volunteering with his local community. He is one of Sacramento’s athletic All-stars from back in the day; rugby, football, and wrestling were just some of his strengths in school. With that said, Sacramento High School is lucky to have him as football coach.

Coach Hunt is part of an awesome program that helps mentor student-athletes. Ultimate Goals Sports provides a ‘one stop shop’ for student-athletes to prepare for college. Coaches and mentors work with kids on football techniques, and getting into college. The program focuses on preparing young athletes for the ACT and SAT by administering practice tests to see where improvement is needed. Why such a strong focus on college placement test for high school athletes? There are many talented players itching to be in the NFL, but they have to work harder than just playing on the field. Students need to not only pass high school courses, but they need to be encouraged to take AP (Advance Placement) courses, study for the ACT and SAT, and to apply to the right colleges.

Football athletes, and athletes in general, look for services such as this to improve technical skills while keeping academics a priority. Ultimate Goals Sports provides talent evaluations. So, although an athlete may not be ready for Division 1 football, they are definitely strong and talented to play for D-2 and D-3 colleges. And in order to play for D-2 and D-3 colleges, students must following through with the admissions process. It is critical for students to study diligently and understand what it is going to take to reach their fullest potential.

Coach Kyle Hunt is an essential asset to UGS because he is helping talented kids make their dreams come true. Training on the off-season and weigh lifting regularly is important for many sports, but Coach Hunt is also helping kids apply to college and scholarships. It is important for talented football players to be studious too, Hunt helps them get there. He is inspiring, funny and has tons of great stories to share about his athletic career.

Do you need something new and exciting for your lunch hour? Well, head down to Plates Cafe at 4 Business Park Way in Sacramento’s
Depot Park for a friendly atmosphere, delicious food and free drink refills! I have been going to Plate’s Cafe every Friday for lunch with my gals and we always have a great time and a delicious meal. The service is great and the ladies are welcoming.

This past Saturday, local volunteers came out to rake leaves, pull weeds, and trim edges to keep Tahoe Park looking its best! This is just one of the many successful turn-outs for a Tahoe Park Clean Up Day; in March, local key clubs and friends of the park came together to tidy up the grounds and to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Tahoe Park Pool. During the work day, volunteers filled dozens of bags with green waste and trash, giving Tahoe Park the ultimate face-lift! And as always, the Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association was there to keep volunteers motivated and moving, with fresh fruit and cool water! Thank you, Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association!

I interviewed some volunteers to ask about their volunteer experience. When I asked local volunteer, Juston, what he enjoys about volunteering he explained, The feeling that I get to help people, and knowing that my help will go to good work… I have been out here many, many times.” Justin is just one of the many helpers working to beautify our local parks. Here is a short clip from Dee, student from Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School, who volunteered for the first time!

If you want more information about volunteer opportunities near you, visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/volunteers/ or http://www.handsonsacto.org/

There is an unmistakable shift in the atmosphere around this type of year for sports fans like myself—and I’m not talking about the weather. September brings college and NFL football and an end to the desolate wasteland created by typically baseball-heavy months July and August, and finally a country starved for its most popular sport will feast again. But while ESPN, CBS, Fox, NFL Network and the rest who make up the overwhelming amount of coverage of the college and pro game will give Americans all they could ask for and more, there are more Americans shifting their gaze (or at least flipping over during commercials) to another continent and a different game this time of year.

For as popular as American Football (as it’s known to literally every other person on Earth outside the US) has grown through unprecedented media access to teams, players, and coaches, sophisticated fantasy leagues, and even internationally, it will always play second-fiddle to soccer across the rest of the globe. Now, thanks to recent success for the US men and women’s national teams, Americans are starting to give soccer more of their short attention spans. While the MLS continues to swell in popularity, build new stadiums and continue developing plans to expand in the near future, the exciting play of the English, Spanish, and even Italian and German leagues abroad seem to most effectively stoke the new flames of passion for this sport.

European club teams from the aforementioned countries are being covered here in the United States like never before, and if you have found yourself enamored by the World Cup or recent Euro 2012 tournament you have an unprecedented opportunity to experience the teams that captivate the rest of the world and understand the excitement and world class athleticism that define these multi-billion Euro/Pound leagues. Here are some tips for Americans about enjoying European club soccer

-European club soccer is not what you’re used to seeing from MLS or even World Cup soccer

European leagues have about 20 teams in them, and each one plays the other twice (home-and-home) each season, so the play is often very different from what most Americans see in the World Cup. Often, World Cup soccer is played very conservatively, with teams changing strategies to preserve an early goal or two, rather than continue to attack and play with more exciting pace. Because of the long September-to-May grind of club seasons, teams play aggressively for every point and there is more tempo and cooperation by more familiar teammates.

Aside from that, the talent just dwarfs that of the MLS. Consider the NBA’s international makeup. The best players generally come from one area, North America, but there are players from every continent with different styles of play and physical shape. Now imagine if there were three or four NBA-quality leagues throughout neighboring countries, each with its own Kobe and LeBron-level stars, and the international popularity and talent development infrastructure to continuously provide new 18-year-old Kobes and Lebrons each year to the highest bidders? Now you have a little idea of the talent gap in the Spanish La Liga or English Premier League and the MLS.

Now on top of that, imagine if the top 3-4 teams from each of the elite leagues got together annually to decide on a champion of all of them (UEFA Champions League); all of those superstars from dozens of countries playing in a true tournament. And that won’t even be the only other extra chance for your team to win another trophy that year. The English teams play for the Premier League (a regular season points-based title), the FA Cup (the oldest club soccer competition in the world with an all-English field of Premier League teams and squads from one and two leagues below that you might compare to AAA/AA baseball or BCS/Mid-Major college football), and Carling Cup (another English tournament). Each English team plays for those cups and the top four play for the aforementioned UEFA Champions League or EUROPA League tournaments for fifth place. Oh, and one final thing: If you’re one of the bottom three teams in your league at the end of the season, your team is DEMOTED to one of the lower leagues! This is the format around the world and throughout Europe.

All of this infrastructure of actively involved soccer-playing countries, talent, established tournaments, and trophies just help to contain the demand the scale of this sport has. And this only speaks of the very top leagues.

–It will take a little time and some commitment to appreciate

If you’re not willing to try and learn new things, then this article isn’t for you anyway, but luckily for those who are game it’ll be a pleasant experience. The best way to learn is with someone who has played the game at a high level or your average English-speaking European fan. The Dutch are particularly apt in my experience.

Obviously the first hang-up Americans typically have with soccer is that it’s boring, low-scoring, and just a bunch of pointless passing back and forth without even going anywhere. And sometimes, most if not all of those can be true. But when you get a chance to watch players on Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, or Juventus, players on each of which all likely national team starters and as athletic as anyone on the planet, passing back and forth can be a thing of beauty. Though not as immediately satisfying as a touchdown pass or home run, the ball skills and footwork of the upper-echelon players on these teams can make even a 0-0 draw one of the most exciting games you’ve ever seen. Give the games your full attention and watch the players’ feet closely if nothing else and you’ll begin to understand why it’s called “the beautiful game.” And give it several games and maybe watch a few highlights to keep up a sense of continuity with what’s going on. Here’s how.

–Find a way to tune in

If you’ve been a regular ESPN viewer over the last few years, you’ve noticed a decent increase in their coverage of soccer, even without the EURO 2012 tournament in June. You can often find an BPL (English) game on early mornings on ESPN2 or even the flagship if it’s big enough (see last year’s de-facto “championship game” between Manchester United and Manchester City, something which doesn’t often happen because there is no post-season per se). If you want to go a step further, a $6-7 bump on your cable or satellite bill can get you Fox Soccer and/or Fox Soccer Plus, which will basically give you all of the English league, most of the Italian top-flight, Serie A, and some of the Spanish La Liga.

-If you can do all these, find a team of your own

When I committed to learning more about English soccer, I thought I would objectively observe games and after a season or two decide, completely unbiased and fully informed, on the team I would wholeheartedly support. As with a lot of life’s fine-laid plans, that didn’t work out and after a few months found myself gravitating toward one team so much so that I decided it wasn’t worth denying myself. I now happily and confidently say I’ll be a fan for life.

However you decide to choose a team to follow, it’s worth knowing that it doesn’t have to be a complicated process. It’s often a simple honest assessment of clubs you’ll be able to watch on a regular basis in the U.S. who are likely to win something in your lifetime. Try and watch a few games and see if they are entertaining or if they just don’t seem like they do it for you. This may seem like front-running, but it’s actually just logical. Unlike every other sports team you’ve encountered in your life, you’re not born into this. Would you really have chosen the Cleveland Browns or Charlotte Bobcats if you hadn’t been raised there? No, so don’t make this a “lovable loser” issue. Make it easy on yourself. Pick an (occasional) winner.